(NAPSI)—Halle Stanford, President of
Television at The Jim Henson Company and mother to two boys, ages 19 and 6,
shares her views on navigating the kids' TV landscape.

As a producer at The Jim Henson Company and a mom to two boys, I have a
unique perspective on screen time. I've also explored this issue in one of my
shows, Dot. This animated preschool
series created by the fabulous Randi Zuckerberg addresses how technology can
enhance a kid's everyday adventures. We were lucky to be advised by Yalda
Uhls (author of Media Moms and Digital
Dads) on creating a show curriculum that encourages kids and their
families to be excellent digital citizens, to come up with a family media
agreement, and to talk openly about screen time.

My personal philosophy on this issue is simple: Viva la screen time! I
encourage my kids to enjoy movies, television, videos, apps, and more. Like
my hero Jim Henson, I believe in the positive transformative power of media.
As a producer, my goal has always been to create television and films that
enrich, educate, and entertain. So I have always encouraged my boys to love
the shows and games that they are drawn to, but also to discover programming
that informs them on issues and ideas they are curious about. Favorites in
our house range from Phineas and Ferb,
Sarah and Duck, Reading Rainbow Skybrary, Despicable Me, Star Wars to
Westworld, Nathan For You, Game Of Thrones, and The Walking Dead. (Remember,
my boys are 13 years apart!)

As a momma, how much screen time do I let my youngest have? It has changed
with his age and often depends on what's happening that day. In the summer,
he's allowed screen time in the morning AND in the afternoon, but it's more
limited during the school year. True confession: I don't have a set amount of
time he always gets, but it's usually no longer than an hour. And we do talk
about how long he'll be watching the shows before he settles in to viewing.
And when that last show starts, he gets a reminder that his screen time is almost
up. Yes, there have been times when he grabs the phone or remote when screen
time is over and runs around the house laughing, but I'm as quick as a
cheetah.

My 19-year-old is an adult and at this point in his life, I trust him to
regulate his own screen time. And still, the best I can do for both my boys
is to model good screen time habits myself. When we are together, I do my
best to use my phone only to snap those memorable photos or answer an urgent
message. And I tell them why I am taking the time to focus on my screen and
not on them. I also never answer the phone during meals or playtime. But,
once they're asleep or out and about, I love having my own time to turn on my
latest favorite show (hello, Outlander!).

We are in a new golden age of television and I would embolden parents to
find shows that will delight and inspire their kids. It will take time
(because there is so much content out there), but get involved with
customizing your family's viewing experiences together—it's FUN! (And, if it
happens to be Dot., Splash and Bubbles,
Dinosaur Train, Doozers, Word Party, or Julie's Greenroom…even better!).